Matt Rife, an American comedian and actor, has gained recognition for his self-produced comedy specials, namely “Only Fans,” “Matthew Steven Rife,” and “Walking Red Flag.” Additionally, he is well-known for his recurring role on the sketch improv comedy and rap show “Wild ‘n Out.”
Bio/Wiki
Age-28 years
Height-1.83 m
Weight-85 kg
Full name- Matthew Steven Rife
Born-10 September 1995
Birthplace-Columbus, Ohio, United States
Profession-American comedian and actor
Nationality- American
Parents
Matt Rife, originally from Columbus, Ohio, and raised in North Lewisburg, spent part of his upbringing in New Albany and Mount Vernon under the care of his mother, April Rife. Tragically, Matt’s father Michael Eric Gutzke passed away by suicide when he was just a baby. Despite facing this early loss, Matt developed a strong and close relationship with his mother. He has a total of four siblings, comprising three older stepsisters and one younger half-sister.
Girlfriend
The comedian, Matt Rife, and his girlfriend, actress and dancer Jessica Lord, have been romantically linked since the summer, initially noticed by fans who observed Rife’s playful comments on Lord’s Instagram. Hailing from Rochdale, England, a small town in the northern region outside of Manchester, Jessica Lord attracted attention on TikTok for her distinctive accent, described as a blend of British, Scottish, and Canadian influences. In response to comments about her unique accent, the actress shared additional details about her background. Rife had a brief romantic involvement with English actress Kate Beckinsale in the years 2017 and 2018.
Career
Rife’s foray into comedy began at the age of 14 when he discovered a talent show opportunity at his high school, inspired by a teacher’s mention. Encouraged by a friend, he took the stage and, at just 15, embarked on his professional comedy career. Renowned for his self-produced comedy specials, including “Only Fans” (2021), “Matthew Steven Rife” (2023), and “Walking Red Flag” (2023), he gained visibility as a contestant on the 2019 series “Bring the Funny,” reaching the Semi-Final Showcase before elimination in week 8.
In the realm of acting, Rife has made notable appearances on the sketch comedy and improv show “Wild ‘n Out,” portrayed Brandon Bliss on the sitcom “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and assumed the role of Logan in the television series “Fresh Off the Boat.” Additionally, he hosted the short-lived reboot of Total Request Live in 2017 and participated in MTV’s “The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars.” Rife’s diverse talents extend to paranormal investigation, featured on the YouTube channel “Overnight.”
Making significant strides in his career, Rife signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in December 2022. In April 2023, he released a self-titled special, “Matthew Steven Rife,” on Valentine’s Day, followed by another special in June 2023 titled “Walking Red Flag,” focusing on crowd-work. Rife, motivated by the desire to prevent interruptions during future performances, crafted an entire special around the theme of audience “red flags.”
Acknowledging his comedic influences, Rife cites Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais as his two biggest inspirations. He lauds them as prolific comedians, writers, and performers, praising their alignment with his own views and humor. Additionally, he expresses admiration for comedic figures such as Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Jim Varney, David Spade, and Robin Williams, who played a formative role in his comedic upbringing.
Movies and TV Show
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine 2013 – 2021
- Burb Patrol 2021
- Matt Rife: Natural Selection2023
- Trapped Inn
- Matt Rife: Only Fans
- The Curse of Wolf Mountain
- Stalked By My Doctor: A Sleepwalker’s Nightmare
- Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything2015 – 2017
- Death Link
- Total Request Live1998 – 2008
- North of the 10
- Black Pumpkin2018
- WTH: Welcome to Howler
- Just Swipe
- Wild N’ on Tour2016
- Elevator, The
- Don’t Suck
- LMAOF
- Room 236
- ATL Comedy Arts Fest Volume 2 (2022)
- American Typecast
- The Debt
- Candy Flip
- Karma’s a Bitch
- The Private Eye
- Live at the Room
- ATL Comedy Arts Fest
Net Worth 2023
Matt Rife, the American comedian and actor, possesses a net worth amounting to $39 million.
Latest News about Matt Rife
Matt Rife’s Response: From Netflix Backlash to ‘Special Needs Helmets
Comedian Matt Rife faced backlash for his latest Netflix stand-up comedy special, “Natural Selection,” as clips of him making jokes about domestic violence circulated widely on Monday. Responding to the criticism, Rife, a comedian with more than a decade of experience and known for his appearances on MTV’s “Wild ‘n Out,” addressed his critics in a broad statement shared on his Instagram story on Monday afternoon.
“If you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told — here’s a link to my official apology,” he wrote.
The hyperlink in his Instagram story directs users to a medical website specializing in the sale of helmets designed for individuals with special needs. Despite numerous requests for comment, representatives for Rife have not provided any responses.
“Natural Selection,” premiered on Netflix last Wednesday, delves into various topics such as social media trolls, spirituality, and parenthood. Rife kicked off the special with a joke about a Baltimore restaurant server who had a black eye.
Recalling the incident, Rife shared, “And my boy who I was with was like: ‘Yeah, I feel bad for her, man. I feel like they should put her in the kitchen or something where nobody has to see her face, ya know?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye.’” He acknowledged that he was “testing the waters” with the audience and stated, “I figure we start the show with domestic violence, the rest of the show should be pretty smooth sailing after that.”
The clip of this opening joke gained millions of views on TikTok and thousands on other platforms, sparking condemnation for making light of abuse. Comments on TikTok expressed dismay, with one saying, “I’m genuinely trying to figure out how this can be spun as funny? Like he’s victim blaming?” Another criticized Rife for the later joke in the special about the penis of an old classmate with special needs.
Rife, who rose to popularity on TikTok for his crowd work in July 2022, faced a surge in demand when tickets for his “ProbleMATTic” world tour went on sale, causing Ticketmaster to crash earlier this year. Despite the controversy, representatives for Rife have not responded to requests for comment.
